unspun (a day too late...)

I tend to push deadlines. That's why, on this blog, KCCO Tuesdays turned in to KCCO Wednesdays when I gave in to always posting about my current knitting project a day too late. And now that I've changed it, well, I have repeatedly been posting on Thursdays instead. Ay,ay,ay. No harm done really, although I do like to get things done on time. This is an area where I have a chance to improve my ways, one of the few (!).

This week's knitting project is an indulgent little lopi sweater for Ósk. I had a strong craving to work with single-ply unspun Lopi (the best kind of lopi wool!!) and had some white and pink in my stash. I also had the perfect sweater pattern, so, voila! I am already done with the body and have started one sleeve. I am anticipating a very sweet looking little sweater for my sweet looking toddler, perfect for the sometimes not so warm Icelandic summer. It's a nice project for working on in between long shifts, as well.

I am linking up with Frontier Dreams for this week's KCCO. Do check it out!

would you look at that

I really wanted to bring some rare foreign yarn home with me from Helsinki, preferably Finnish. As it turned out, I had no luck finding Finnish yarn. They don't keep a lot of sheep over there and only spin a tiny bit of wool which is hard to find for sale. My friend who used to live in Turku told me about this little yarn shop near the Kaampi shopping mall in the center of Helsinki, Fiinaneule, a lovely little shop indeed and the shop owner was so helpful. She completely understood my yarn hunting mission and had even been in Iceland a few months earlier, going from yarn shop to yarn shop with the same in mind! 

Fiinaneule mostly had Rowan and some other rather common brands (all very nice) which I bought a few skeins of. But the best part was this exquisite Indian silk which they buy directly from a Finnish woman who lives in India and gets is by fair trade directly from local silk farmers. Oh, yes. I have never, ever, worked with such a quality fiber before. Never. Ever. It is simply wonderfully soft and the color is perfect. It's not quite as finely spun as silk so often is, more like DK weight, not quite fingering weight. I bought this one skein to make a toddler silk cap for Ósk now that she's outgrown all her baby silk caps. But I might have to buy some more, this stuff is seriously drug-like. Luckily I have tracked it down on Etsy as "Gorgeous silk yarn by Craftamma" so my addiction can be easily fed. 

I am using a pattern called Junie Cap which I found by using the advanced search in the Ravelry pattern database depending mostly on the fiber weight and quality. I am about halfway done and looking forward to trying the earflaps with the short rows, it might be a disaster since silk can be so unforgiving with such knitting maneuvers. If it turns out really bad I'll just make something up. 

Linking up with Frontier Dreams - are you crafting along as well?

when the going gets slow...

After completing three clues quickly and with a smile, I had a huge setback in this week's clue in the mkal. I made one.single.error. in row 10 and didn't discover it until row 20. And oh, the undoing that awaited me! With my busy time in school it literally took days just to set things right. I stuck it out though in the hope of still having a chance of finishing this clue before next Friday. I have an early morning flight to Helsinki tomorrow so I have some spare time, I'd say. 

It's only me and Oddur going so we'll be having a lot of just-us time. Love it. And even though it will be hard to be separated from these sweet little artists of ours they will be in the very safe hands of my mother who's moving into our apartment for the weekend. And she'll have help from Oddur's parents and our sisters and brothers... so, plenty of family my children can count on! We are so very blessed with all this great people around us.

Leftover yarn alien mittens (First day of summer 2015)

Pattern: Pacman-púkar by G. Dagbjört Guðmundsdóttir

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and Shibui Baby Alpaca

Needles: 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm

Leftover yarn hippie skirt (First day of summer 2015)

Pattern: Dorritarpilsið by Sigríður Margrét Jónsdóttir

Yarn: Tern, Geilsk Uld/Bomuld, Yaku and Gepard Cotton Wool

Hook: 3.5 mm 

MILO

Pattern: Milo by Georgie Hallam

Yarn: Phildar Pur Angora and Shibui Baby Alpaca

Needles: 4.0 mm 

Well. When I have a tough time with my knitting, such as I am having this week due to my stubbornness with the mystery knit-along, it really does brighten my mood to stare long and hard at my already accomplished things, be it actually modeled on my beautiful babies, placed on shelves or in baskets around our home or made eternal by photographs. I did manage to finish the kids' First Day of Summer gifts last week and was rather proud of myself. The skirt is a bit on the larger side for Ósk even though I went down half a hook size but that's fine since I suspect she'll grow into it eventually. The mittens were a hit and as you can see in the photo they have already, in only a couple of days, taken on a worn kind of look. 

To try and further lighten up I also finally got around to photographing the little vest I made for Ósk a few weeks back. It fits so perfectly and is so soft and we just love it. I modified the pattern a bit, inspired by the way Nicole did earlier but instead of the garter stitch going all the way down I switched to stockinette after the yoke was done and then did a little garter trim before casting off. It's a nice little pattern with the cable though and I might just try that when this one starts to look too small. 

I'll be back here on Friday with my second "Moments" photo and then again on Sunday or Monday with photos from the trip (eeek!). Until then - it's Finland, baby!

ps. I'm linking up with Frontier Dreams and can't wait to browse through all the inspiring crafting links being shared!

knitting a milo and considering a new craft

You'll have to excuse my absence the past few days and the horrid quality of today's photo. My camera has been visiting dear friends of ours who recently had a baby. I am a bit jealous of the darned camera for getting to spend so much time with a newborn (although I am so.not.having.more.kids.any.time.soon.or.maybe.ever) but in the meantime I am learning to live without having to photograph anything and everything we do. It seems to be a lesson well needed. I had no idea this machine had such a grip on me! Letting it go is probably the best way to reconsider our relationship a bit, I'd say. I can still use my phone camera for emergencies, such as photographing works-in-progress to share with the world.

This week's project is a little Milo for my Ósk who, well, needs another little vest since the last one I knit was too big. I'm using the softest pink angora, leftovers from the hat I made myself a few weeks ago, and this lovely Shibui baby alpaca in grey-blue. It was a gift from my amazing friend Linda, who brought it to me when Ósk was just born. Only a true knitter friend knows what's even better than receiving the softest baby handknits: Receiving the softest baby yarn to handknit! It did take me a while to find the right pattern but Milo is so it. I am changing it a wee bit, inspired by this incredibly cute one Nicole made, and skipping the cable. Although I'd like to make another one someday and try it with the cable as well. 

I have also just discovered Soulemama's blog and books. Oh, my! The inspiration! The goodness! I might have to start sewing soon, I even got out my (tiny) stash of fabric and contemplated on just how courageous I really am. We'll see if this goes anywhere. My sewing skills are very poor though I've always wanted to be one of those people who can just whip up a sundress or a pillowcase or a last-minute-gift or whatever. My great-grandmother, grandmother and mom are like that... perhaps it's about time I lived up to the legacy!

...

Go check out the KCCO link up at Frontier Dreams - inspiring as always. 

tern-tastic!

Lillies top for Ósk

Pattern: Lillies top from Babystrik pa pinde 3, by Lene Holme Samsoe

Yarn: Tern, silk and wool blend from Quince&co. 

Needles: 3.0 mm and 2.5 mm

Sunshine balaclava

Pattern: Bríet by Hildur Ýr Ísberg 

Yarn: Tern from Quince and Co.

Hooks: 3.5 mm and 3.0 mm

Another very slow weekend has passed, this time because poor little Ósk came down with a bad flu last Thursday.She was feeling a lot better and had no fever on Saturday so I opened the balcony door and let some fresh air and sunshine into the apartment - much to her satisfaction as you can see in the photos. She just happened to be wearing her new vest so I grabbed the camera and the opportunity and snapped some photos of her. As I mentioned earlier it's a size too large so it's more like a little dress. Still cute though! And the color is fitting since Easter is just around the corner. (With her front teeth gap she sort of looks like a little Ester bunny, too, haha!)

But then on Sunday morning she was feeling much worse again, so I'm taking her to see a doctor later today in case this is something serious. I doubt it, but one can never be too sure. 

I did get around to finishing a few things on my to do list, I tidied up my yarn basket and organized my projects, then I finished some little things that have been waiting for my attention for weeks now. I also finished, washed and blocked the little balaclava. I had some trouble with the cuff around the face but ended up changing to a larger hook and then it was fine. I think the outcome is quite adorable and have to recommend this yarn, tern (more info here). Well, actually, I have yet to meet a Quince and Co. type of yarn I did not fall in love with... 

See you tomorrow with a KCCO update!

sunshine balaclava

I have been working on this little crochet balaclava, using leftover Term yarn from the Lillies Top I made for Ósk. (Although, as it turned out, I had to buy more of it anyway and will have leftovers from this project as well...). This is yet another pattern by my talented friend Hildur Yr, and a very quick and cute one it is. It has that hippie vibe about it, as so many crochet projects do, and will make a fitting present for our friends first baby, who is due in the next few days. It's nice to do some crochet along with all the knitting, it's been a while and I somehow forgot how fun it is.

I'll make it a short post this time, I've had a very long day and have an early meeting tomorrow morning. I am linking up with Frontier dreams as usually and highly recommend checking out at least a few of the KCCO links over there - so many interesting and beautiful things being made all over the world! Inspiring indeed!